DIETARY DIVERSITY OF HOUSEHOLDS AND LEVELS OF FOOD SECURITY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ABOMEY-CALAVI

Abstract

Populations have access to a variety of foods, at more or less affordable costs, which condition different states of food security. The objective of this research is to analyze the diversity of household food consumption in order to identify food security levels in the commune of Abomey-Calavi. The methodological approach adopted consisted of data collection, processing and analysis of the results. The survey was conducted among 442 households selected in the urban cores of each of the nine arrondissements of the Commune. The tools and materials used for the data collection consisted of the questionnaire, the interview guides, GPS and digital cameras. The results were analyzed using the Consolidated Food Security Indicator Approach (CARI). The results show that cereals constitute the main daily diet for 99% of households. The food consumption score indicates three levels of household food consumption namely acceptable food consumption, borderline food consumption and poor food consumption which concentrate 54%, 27¨% and 19% of households respectively. The Food Security Index determined by the CARI approach allowed us to distinguish four levels of food vulnerability in Abomey - calavi: Food Security (42%), Borderline Food Security (30%), Moderate Food Insecurity (25%) and Severe Food Insecurity (3%).